Barrio (restaurant)
Barrio Mexican Kitchen & Bar, or simply Barrio, was a Mexican restaurant in Seattle, in the U.S state of Washington. The restaurant was owned by Heavy Restaurant Group, which previously operated a second Barrio location in Bellevue. It closed permanently in 2024.
Description
Barrio was Mexican restaurant on Capitol Hill. Thrillist said the business served agave and had "a modern approach to Mexican cuisine that's inspired by Pacific Northwestern flavors and seasonal ingredients -- from freshly caught seafood and locally sourced beef to wild mushrooms and vegan cheeses". In 2014, Sara Billups of Eater Seattle described Barrio as a "stylish Capitol Hill Mexican spot". In 2015, the website's Megan Hill said the restaurant had a "slightly upscale twist on Mexican flavors".The brunch menu included carnitas and pancakes, pork belly benedict, burritos, and tacos. The happy hour menu included the Triple T special, which had a taco, a can of Tecate, and tequila. The drink menu also included beer, mezcal, a prickly pear Bellini, and a Bloody Mary. Margarita varieties included blood orange, a reposado infused with ghost pepper, and a blanco tequila with tamarind.
History
The restaurant was operated by Heavy Restaurant Group. In addition to the Capitol Hill location, the company operated a Barrio restaurant in Bellevue for approximately two years, until closing in 2011. Plans were to convert the Bellevue restaurant into an event space, and 75 percent of workers there were "reassigned" to other Heavy restaurants.In 2022, nine restaurant workers walked out in protest of the tipping structure. The restaurant closed permanently in August 2024.
Pablo y Pablo has been described as a sibling restaurant, with locations Kirkland, Leschi, and Wallingford. Barrio was replaced by Mint and Martini.